Seminars & Workshops

The Summit offers optional seminars and workshops on Day 3, Wednesday, 7 October, open to all participants seeking targeted updates, deeper discussions, or hands‑on skill‑building. Participants may register for these sessions as an add‑on to their 2‑Day Summit Pass or as a standalone Day 3 seminar/workshop registration.

All sessions are 4 hours long, including networking breaks.

Seminars provide structured, expert-led instruction to inform, brief, and update participants.
Workshops offer hands-on activities that enable participants to practice skills directly. Accessibility Professionals gain practical skills and actionable solutions.

Participants may also earn IAAP Continuing Education Credits. Seating for each session is limited.

The Summit reserves the right to cancel a session if attendance is low. If a session is canceled, participants may choose a refund or another available session.

All seminars and workshops run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., offer 4.0 educational credit hours, and include a light breakfast and snack break.

Seminar Description:

Design accessibility isn't just about ticking boxes—it's a commitment that demands ongoing policy, defined processes, and dedicated training. Many teams ask: how do you make accessibility a standard, not an afterthought? At Adobe Design, the Product Equity team created a design accessibility policy embedded in an overall drive toward Design Excellence, which focuses on three core pillars of: Quality, Accessibility, and Composability. Every design file now requires accessibility specifications to be reviewed by an expert. This includes a 29-point checklist and four essential design accessibility annotation types: accessible names, focus order, headings, and landmarks across web, mobile, and desktop. With Adobe leadership buy-in, an infrastructure was built, along with a 15-week program designed to achieve scalability by creating accessibility champions within product teams across Adobe Design.

This Seminar provides an overview of the Adobe DACE (Design Accessibility Certified Expert) system, including its policies, processes, infrastructure, training, and scalability. Relevant to UX leaders, design ops, product managers, and anyone making accessibility a repeatable part of the design process.

Learning Objectives:

Articulate the case for a design accessibility policy and executive sponsorship (“policy, not preference”) within a Design Excellence framework.
Identify the key components of a design accessibility policy: structured reviews, annotation requirements, and clear standards, and understand how they fit into a broader change-enablement strategy.
Explain how policy, process, infrastructure, training, and scalability work together as change enablement.
Apply lessons from Adobe’s DACE program and Discover/Define/Deliver badges to plan or strengthen internal accessibility training or certification.
Describe Adobe’s and IAAP’s new UX Accessibility Design Professional Certification launching in 2027, and the specific educational offerings that prepare participants for this certification.

Host: Damian Sian, CPWA, is a Principal Engineering Program Manager on Adobe Design's Product Equity Team

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Audience: The Seminar is open to all interested UX Design including but not limited to: UX leaders, design ops, product managers, and anyone making accessibility a repeatable part of the design process.

Seminar Description:

This panel explains the U.S. Department of Justice’s Title II ADA Final Rule, which sets accessibility requirements for state and local government websites and mobile apps. The rule mandates WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance so individuals with disabilities can equally access digital services, programs, and activities.

Panelists will explore the scope of the rules, including compliance timelines. Panelists will discuss and highlight the practical implications for digital teams, procurement, IT governance, and content creators, as well as the legal and reputational risks of noncompliance. The session will provide actionable guidance on how organizations can prepare proactively, adopt sustainable accessibility workflows, and implement long-term governance structures that exceed minimum

Learning Objectives:

Explaining the Core Requirements of the Title II ADA Final Rule
Identifying Key Compliance Timelines and Organizational Responsibilities
Applying Technical Accessibility Standards to Digital Content
Develop strategies, assess risks, and create an accessibility action plan

Host: Eve Hill, Esq. Leading Disability Rights Attorney, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Audience: The Seminar is open to all interested in Title II, including but not limited to: ADA Coordinators, Leadership, Legal & Compliance Teams, Department Heads & Program Managers, Facilities, IT, Communications, & Digital Teams, and HR & Training Teams

Seminar Description:

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is transforming the accessibility landscape for anyone selling products and services to consumers in the EU – no matter where the company is headquartered. Accessibility professionals around the world need to understand the EU-specific requirements on accessibility, mandatory documentation and reporting as well as market surveillance frameworks.

This workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to the act, combining legal, technical, and practical perspectives. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the scope of the legislation, the products and services covered, the relationship between the EAA and European standards such as the EN 301 549, and the obligations placed on manufacturers, distributors and importers of products as well as service providers in scope of the legislation.

Through a combination of expert presentation, facilitated discussions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, participants will work together to better understand the EAA and its implications for their organizations or customers. Participants are encouraged to share questions and scenarios on beforehand, so they can be included in the content.

Learning objectives:

Understand the purpose, scope, and structure of the European Accessibility Act.
Identify which products and services are covered and what requirements apply.
Understand the accessibility requirements of the act and how they relate to European standards.
Gain insight into compliance obligations, documentation, and enforcement mechanisms.
Be better prepared to support accessibility compliance in the EU.

Host: Susanna Laurin, CPACC, IAAP Honorary Chair & EU Representative, G3ict/IAAP

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Audience: The Seminar is open to all interested in the EAA, including but not limited to: Executive Leadership (Accountability), Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer / General Counsel, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Digital Officer, Legal & Compliance Teams, Digital Product & Technology Teams (Implementation), Marketing, Content & Customer Experience Teams, Procurement (Vendor & Third-Party Compliance), and Training & Change Management.

Seminar Description:

Join G3ict for an exclusive preview of a pioneering academic initiative: developing the first graduate-level certificate designed to prepare the next generation of global digital accessibility policy experts. As mandates expand—from the European Accessibility Act and new U.S. Title II regulations to emerging procurement rules and accessibility laws worldwide—professionals need a comprehensive postgraduate-level resource to understand their implications and respond effectively.

This interactive session will bring together corporate accessibility leaders, IAAP executives, DARE Guide editors, university partners, policymakers, and disability advocates to examine the foundations of its curriculum.

Participants will gain unique practical insights into:

Digital accessibility laws and regulations shaped by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by 193 countries;
Core legal definitions, policy models, and regulatory approaches adopted worldwide, and their impact on industry and persons with disabilities;
Gaps between national commitments and implementation, local enforcement regimes, and a preview of the 2026 DARE Index covering 142 countries;
Strategies for achieving global compliance while anticipating evolving policies, regulations, and technologies.

Participants will receive a certificate at the end of the seminar. Participants will also“be granted free access to the G3ict Digital Accessibility Rights Education (DARE) Resource Guide – a comprehensive guide for policymakers, advocates, and professionals.”

Learning Objectives:

Understand the latest global regulatory developments
Explore the body of knowledge needed to manage accessibility requirements globally
Define a shared learning path for accessibility professionals and graduate students

Host: Mohammed A. Loutfy, Ph.D., CPACC, G3ict Advocacy & Capacity Building Director

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Audience: Open to anyone interested in digital accessibility rights, including those in government, industry, advocacy, academia, and related organizations.

Workshop Description:

Research from Deque shows that 67% of digital accessibility defects can be prevented during the design phase, making early investment in accessibility a cost-effective strategy that improves usability and accelerates development. This workshop covers key accessibility terminology, standards, and best practices for design, while exploring how proactive accessibility-focused design improves organizational dynamics. Topics include common RACI pitfalls, maturity models, reporting frameworks, and ROI methodologies to help build internal support for accessibility initiatives. Before attending, participants submit a public website URL, which Deque analyzes for accessibility conformance. This real data is then used during the workshop to help attendees build a personalized, actionable implementation plan they can apply immediately. Data remains accessible for 90 days post-workshop. While the focus is on websites, the session also addresses accessibility considerations for mobile apps, intranets, content management systems, and design systems, along with relevant testing tools and timelines.

Learning Objectives:

Create a hi-level action plan based on the attendee’s specific data to mature their Design organization.
Explain which digital accessibility standards should be addressed during the design phase.
Recognize common attributes of successful design practices, reporting, and maturity models.
Apply how ROI calculators and storytelling methodologies can gain collaboration with your accessibility journey.
Access to automated test results data for 90-days post workshop.

Speaker: Matthew Luken, Senior Vice President, Global Programs & Regulatory Affairs; European Partnerships, Deque

Bio: Matthew Luken is a Senior Vice President, Global Programs & Regulatory Affairs; European Partnerships, consulting with companies of all sizes, markets, and industries to grow their digital accessibility programs. Prior to Deque, Matthew built and ran U.S. Bank’s digital accessibility program, providing accessibility design reviews, compliance testing services, defect remediation consulting, and more. He also served as Head of UXDesign’s Accessibility Center of Practice. As an expert in digital accessibility, user experience, and service design, Matthew has worked with over 500 brands, covering every vertical and category. He also advises digital designers and accessibility professionals through mentorship programs.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Audience: The Workshop is open to all Accessibility Professionals, including but not limited to: Program / Project Managers; UX Professionals; Designers; Marketing/Communications; Web Professionals; Consulting; Product Owners (Digital)

Workshop Description:

In today’s climate, advancing accessibility and disability inclusion often means navigating ambivalence, misunderstanding, or even resistance. This interactive workshop equips participants with practical persuasion skills grounded in emotional intelligence (EQ) to move accessibility forward - especially when it’s hard. Through hands-on exercises, group discussion, and real-world scenarios, participants will learn how to understand their audience, adapt their message, and respond effectively to a range of reactions - from curiosity to skepticism. Using frameworks like Schein’s Cultural Iceberg and Aristotle’s rhetoric (logos, pathos, ethos), attendees will practice communicating accessibility in ways that build trust, shift mindsets, and inspire action. Participants will leave with immediately applicable tools to influence culture, strengthen the accessibility workforce, and drive inclusive outcomes across sectors.

Learning Objectives:

Identify at least three factors that shape your own frame of reference and explain how these help or hinder your approach to accessibility advocacy.
Analyze a real-world scenario using the Cultural Iceberg model to distinguish between overt accessibility practices and underlying cultural assumptions.
Apply the principles of logos, pathos, and ethos to craft a persuasive accessibility message tailored to a specific audience.
Demonstrate at least two strategies for responding effectively to resistance (e.g., ambivalence, avoidance, or skepticism) in accessibility conversations.
Develop a personalized action plan outlining one concrete step to increase your influence and impact on accessibility within your organization or sector.

Speaker: Breandan Ward, PCC, FHEA, MPA, Coach, Consultant & Educator

Bio: Breandan is a disability strategist, educator, and leadership coach with over 25 years of experience across corporate, academic, and mission-driven sectors. He is an Adjunct Professor at New York University, where he teaches disability-inclusive strategy and leadership, and also teaches entrepreneurship for people with disabilities at TU Dublin. Previously, he spent over 15 years in investment banking in London and New York, including leadership roles at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, while navigating progressive sight loss due to an inherited retinal condition. Now based in London, Breandan works internationally with organizations across sectors to advance disability inclusion through practical, people-centered, and persuasive approaches. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and ICF-certified coach, he brings both lived experience and cross-sector insight to build more inclusive workplaces and leaders. Breandan is an avid runner and loves travel, music and languages.

Skill Level: Advanced

Audience: The Workshop is open to all Accessibility Professionals, including but not limited to: Advocates; Customer Service; Educators / Researchers; Executive Leadership; HR Professionals; Marketing/Communications; Policy Makers; C-Level Executives (CEOs, CFOs, CTOs and more); Consulting

Why Attend a Seminar or Workshop?

Half-Day Seminars & Workshops | 7 October

UX Accessibility Design: Beyond Tools & Technology | Seminar

ADA Title II Digital Access: From Requirements to Real Implementation | Seminar

Navigating the European Accessibility Act: What Global Organizations Need to Know | Seminar

Digital Accessibility Policy Foundation Certificate | Seminar

Digital Accessibility Maturity Planning for Design Organizations | Workshop

The Art of Persuasion: Practical Skills to Advance Accessibility in Challenging Times | Workshop

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